Reading your last entry and with all we spoke about today, yes, our children need to respect us and in turn, we need to respect them as well. To earn respect, respect must be given but, they are still our children and we are the adults. As I said today, sometimes it is so easy for us to point out all the things that our children are doing wrong or not doing at all in an effort to make them better but there has to be a balance of telling them all the things that they are doing right. Sam reminds me of this on occasion which forces me to “check myself” I as an adult would not want to be told only negative things on a regular basis, imagine how it would feel if your husband came home everyday and the only words he spoke to you were “why is the house so messy? Why is dinner not made? Why are you spending so much money? Why is the laundry not done?” I think that if we find our selves as mothers “nagging” or complaining to our kids all the time, it’s no wonder that they lock themselves in their rooms and turn to all the electronics you spoke of. I would want to tune out as well. We all as human beings want to be appreciated. Lets all try an experiment today…… As soon as you see your children when they get out of school the first thing you should say is something that you are so proud of them for, then just wait and look at the expression on their face. Sometimes it just takes a simple “smile” or light up when you see them. I think that with our busy lives, so often we are so obsorbed in our issues and problems that we forget that our children have issues and problems too and we need to be that person that they look forward to seeing when they walk in the door. Even though they are teenagers now, think back to the innocent babies we held and nurtured so long ago. They still need that nurturing from us but also need to understand that there are things that we need from them. I think that this will bring about a mutual respect and will help bring the balance that we are all looking for in our teens.

On the other issue we spoke of today, which is my friend Edie. I thing that you will find her struggle with Lukeimia at the age of 36, is a very brave and inspiring one. Please look at her blog at http://www.edie-thruthevalley.blogspot.com. Her passages from the Bible and her attitude through out all that she has been through have inspired me and given me such hope and peace. To think that she is going through such a difficult time fighting the battle for her life as well as raising two teenage daughters, makes all my struggles pale in comparison and gives me such an appreciation for the gifts in my life.

Talk to you soon

Tina